Swimming pool cleaner

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION DISCLOSED HEREIN RELATES TO A CLEANING DEVICE FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND MORE PARTICULARLY TO A HAND-OPERATED CLEANER HAVING A RECIPROCATING PISTON ASSEMBLY WHICH DRAWS DEBRIS-LADEN WATER FROM THE FLOOR OF THE POOL INTO A BARREL ASSEMBLY AND SEQUENTIALLY THROUGH A LINER WHICH CATCHES AND RETAINS MACROSCOPIC PARTICLES SUCH AS PEBBLES, LEAVES, PAPER AND THE LIKE AND THROUGH A STRAINER WHICH CATCHES AND RETAINS MICROSCOPIC PARTICLES.

[ 1 June 28, 1974 United States Patent Vockroth 3,630,364 12/1971Johnston.....................,....,..... 15/117 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS I 1 SWIMMING POOL CLEANER [76] Inventor: William J.Vockroth, 1148 Pleasant Dr., Harrisburg, Pa. 17111 Dec. 26, 1972 Appl.No.: 318,192

702,434 2/1941 15/341 2,809 1913 Great Britain..,.....................15/341 [22] Filed:

Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or FirmAllan B.Osborne, Esq.

ABSTRACT The invention disclosed herein relates to a cleaning device forswimming pools and more particularly to a 7 5 Z2 X WNS wm h um 3X 4 1 6m u 1 N 0 E 15 B .3 n./ u "5 m T .c n "r n a U .8 W L LM C d 5 1d U .mFH mm 5 55 I [I hand-operated cleaner having a reciprocating pistonassembly which draws debris-laden water from the floor of the pool intoa barrel assembly and sequentially through a liner which catches andretains macro- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS scopicparticles such as pebbles, leaves, paper and the like and through astrainer which catches and retains microscopic particles.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Small Miller...........

m fim M h .mp h.. mmd c iua RHH SWIMMING POOL CLEANER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Within recent years there has been a significant increase inthe purchase and use of swimming pools for the home. The size of theserange from plastic welding pools to large concrete pools embedded in theground and having diving boards, slides and the like.

Other than the wading pools which contain a relatively small volume ofwater and are emptied almost on a daily basis,.the larger pools presenta cleaning problem to the owner. Such pools, particularly those set upin ones backyard receive a large volume of debris via the continualingress-egress of the children for whom most of such pools arepurchased. Grass blades, gum wappers, leaves, drinking straws, littlepebbles and ice cream sticks represent a fair number of items which canbe found at any given time in a pool. In addition, bacterial growthseems to always be present on the floor and walls.

In larger pools complex filtration circulating systems are frequentlyemployed to cycle the water through filtering mediums. However, as theintake pipes for these systems are permanently positioned somewhere inthe pool; i.e., they are immobile, only debris which is water-borne canbe carried into the filtering mediums. Water-logged material whichsettle on the bottom, pebbles, bacterialgrowth on the floors and thelike are not removable by such systems.

Smaller pools have the same problem but a greater degree per volume ofwater because their size and purchase cost negate a filtration systemsuch as discussed above. As these pools are difficult to clean, they gofor a considerable length of time before they are emptied, scrubbedoutand refilled.

While any debris in'a pool detracts from the pleasure thereof, pebbleson the floor of those pools having a plastic lining creates a specialproblem. Such pebbles are often angular and press into and through thelining whereby the pool develops a leak. Notonly do these leaks causemuddy conditions around a pool, they waste water which in some parts ofthe country is becoming scarce and expensive.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide ahand-operated swimming pool cleaner capable of removing debris fromswimming pools.

ltis another object of this invention to provide an inexpensive cleanerwhich will remove both microscopic and macroscopic particles from aswimming pool.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a swimmingpool cleaner which will remove debris without the loss of watertherefrom.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cleaner whichwill operate in any depth of water and which is operable by children aswell as adults.

These and other objects can be obtained in accordance with thisinvention, by providing a novel type of swimming pool cleaner that canbe inexpensively manufactured and which includes a pump assemblyreciprocally positioned in a barrel and which pulls the debris-ladenwater into the barrel and sequentially through a liner which catchesmacroscopic particles and a strainer which catches microscopicparticles. Such a cleaner includes a venturi tube which increases .thevelocity and hence the carrying capacity of the water being drawn intothe barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinalcross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the valves and linerportions of thepreferred embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the venturi member of thepreferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a cross-sectionalelevation view of a swimming pool cleaner 10 showing the severalelements of the present invention and their relationship one to theother.

The elements of cleaner 10 are assembled into the pump assembly 12 andthe head assembly 14 which is removably attached to the lower end of thepump assembly by conventional lugs and slot means.

The pump assembly 12 consists of a barrel subassembly 16 and pistonsubassembly 18 which is reciprocally mounted in barrel subassembly 16along its longitudinal axis.

Barrel subassembly 16 include an elongated barrel member 20 with itsupper end 22 closed by a cap 24 having a centrally located bore 26therethrough. A lateral opening 28, located just below upper end 22,communicates with the upper interior chamber 30 of barrel 20.

The lower end 32 of barrel 20, opened to receive head assembly 14, has apair of inverted L-shaped slots 34 disposed in diametrically spacedrelation to each other and extend up the sides of barrel 20 from thetransverse opening.

Intermediate the two ends of barrel 20 but closer to lower end 32 is anupwardly opening check valve structure 36. Referring now also to FIG. 2,valve structure 36 includes a valve seat 38 having openings 40 throughwhich water may pass. The flexible valve 42 sits on top of the seat andis retained thereon by conventional means such as rivet 44. The valvestructure is retained in a fixed position within barrel 20 by tworetaining rings 46, one on either side of valve seat 38. The rings maybe fixed to the sides of the barrel by adhesive bonding or the like.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, piston subassembly 18 consists of anelongated piston rod 48 which extends through bore 26 in cap 24 and isprovided with a handle 50 at its upper end above barrel 20.

The lower end of piston rod 48 contains an upwardly opening check valvestructure 52. Valve structure 52 includes collar 54 which has solidvalve seat 56 on the bottom thereof and integral therewith. The diameterof the annular valve seat is only slightly less than the inside diameterof barrel 20. An annular flexible valve 58 having a centrally positionedbore therethrough (not shown) is placed on the collar 54 in abuttingengagement with the top of valve seat 56. The valve 58 is the samediameter as the inside diameter of the barrel or slightly greater sothat the valve is a piston during the upstroke of piston rod 48. Aretaining ring 59 is positioned on top of valve 58 and cemented tocollar 54 to retain the valve in place.

The interior chamber of barrel 20 which is between valve structure 36and valve structure 52 is hereinafter referred to as middle chamber 60while the interior chamber of barrel below valve structure 36 ishereinafter referred to a lower chamber 62.

An elongated straining sleeve 63 which is permeable to water but notmicroscopic particles, is removably attached to pump assembly 12 bymeans of a first drawstring 64 which holds the sleeve up over cap 24 andaround pistonrod 48 and a second drawstring 65 which holds the sleevedown around the middle of barrel 20.

From its base, intake shell 66 converges upwardly to r a generallyrounded point 74. On oneside, which may be designated as the trailingside 76, an opening 78 is positioned adjacent to point 74. This openingreceives venturi member 67 which is secured to shell 66 by adhesivebonding or other conventional'means.

Referring now to FIGJ3, venturi member 67consists of a member 82 havinga tube 84 and an enlarged skirt 86 depending therefrom. A flappervalve87 may be attached to the top of tube 84. a r

Adjacent to the free end 88 of skirt 86 is'an annular flange 90. Theoutside diameter of the free end 88 is slightly less than the diameterof opening 78 to permit the insertion of the free end thereinto. Flange90 abuts the shell 66 surrounding opening 78 and is bonded thereto asnoted above.

A collar 92 which telescopingly receives the lower end 32 of barrel 20,projects upwardly from the perim- 7 eter of the shoulder 94defined bythe change in diameter between tube 84 and skirt 86. A pair of lugs 96,disposed in diametrically spaced relation toeach other, projectlaterally from collar 92. These lugs and the aforementioned invertedL-shaped slots 34 from the attachment means between pump and headassemblies 12 and 14 respectively.

As FIG. '3 indicates,-tube 84 projects upwardly at least twice as far ascollar 92 although the exact dimensions are not critical.

Macroparticle catch. liner 68, elongated and cup shaped, is made fromplastic material having aplurality of holes 98 therethrough As FIG. 2shows, catch liner 68 fits upside down into venturi member 67 with thefree ends 100 abutting shoulder 94 and the lower portion of sides 102pressing against the inside of collar 92. It is apparent that exit 104of tube 84 is completely enclosed by the liner.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One of the novel features ofswimming pool cleaner 10 is that the use thereof, as well as thedisassembly for cleaning purposes, is uncomplicated so that it maybeeffectively used by children as well as adults. Another novel feature ofthe cleaneris that it may be effectively 4 To clean a swimmingor wadingpool, cleaner 10 is placed therein so that the head assembly 14; i.e.,intake shell '66, rests on or nearthe floor. The operator then simplyreciprocates piston rod 48 andimoves the cleaner about the pool.

In describing the operatidmreference will be made to FIGS. 1 and 2. Onthe upstroke of piston rod 48 the suction created below check. valve 52;i.e., in middle and lower chambers 60 62,.pulls water, microparticlessuspended therein, leaves, paper, pebbles, sand and other debris intointake shell 66 up'through tube 84 and into macroparticle catch liner68. The suction or lifting power of the cleaner is enhanced by the;re-.duced diameter of tube 84 relative to'shell 66; i.e., the

tube acts as a venturi and causes an increase in the velocity of theincoming water and as is well known, the carrying capacity of waterincreases withincreases in its velocity. Thus, cleaner 10 is able togather pebblesof large sizes.

The incoming water, indicated by arrows in FIG. 2,.

and the suspended microparticles which includes dirt and the like,coming out of exit 104 of tube 84 flow through holes 98 in catch liner68 while pebbles, leaves and other macroparticles', which otherwisecould lodge in either or both check valves 36 52, are caught therein.The suspended. microparticles in the water pass upwardly through checkvalve 36 and into middle chamber 60 below ascending check valve '52.

Upon piston rod 48 reaching its upper limit of travel 1 and during itssubsequent downstroke, the pressure. in

lower chamber 62; i.e., below check valve 36 and particularly around thevicinity of tube 84'and catch liner;

68, returns to whatever pressure exists outside shell 66;i.e.,atmosph'eric plus the weight of the column of water in the pool.All activity within chamber 62 substantially ceases and there exists aperiod of quiescence which allows the settling of pebbles and othermacroparticles caught by catch liner 68. This debris accumulates betweencollar 92 and tube 84 as shown in FIG. 2.

At the conclusion of the upstroke of piston rod 48,

the quantity of water with suspended microparticles which has been drawninto barrel 20 by the suction action, is trapped above check valve 36.On the downstroke, piston subassembly 18 passes through this body ofwater without compressing it as check valve 52 is opened.

used in any depth of water; i.e., cleaner l0 cleans as water'level inthe pool need only'be deep enoughto completely cover notches 72. 7

Upon piston rod-48 reaching its lower limits of travel, check valve 52is almost immediately. above check valve 36 and most of theaforementioned quantity of water is now on top of check valve 52. Aspiston subassembly 18 is again. reciprocated upwardly, the quantity ofwater and suspended microparticles is lifted upwardly by the closedcheck valve 52 and discharged outwardly of upper chamber 30 via opening28. As the water flows through strainer 63 and returns to the pool themicroparticles are caught; and retained by the strainer. 7

At the conclusion of the cleaning operation, cleaner 10 is disassembled.Strainer 63 is removed and turned inside out so that the microparticlescaught therein may be'removed by flushing. Pump assembly 12 is removedfrom head assembly l4 by rotating barrel 20 and pulling' up. Catch liner68 may then be lifted off venturi member 67 and the pebbles, leaves andso forth emptied therefrom. V

Reassembly is as simple; i.e., macroparticle catch 7 liner168 isreplaced onto venturi member 67 and the lower end 32 .on barrel 20 isslid down over collar 92 and rotated so that lugs 96 engage L-shapedslots 34. After strainer 63 is replaced, cleaner is again ready for use.

As will be now readily apparent, refinements may be made to swimmingpool cleaner 10. Instead of strainer 63, a flexible hose (not shown) maybe attached to opening 28 so that the microparticle laden water can bedischarged out of the pool.

Yet, another modification is adding rollers or wheels (not shown) to thebase of intake shell 66 so that the cleaner will roll over the floor ofthe pool.

With the exception of strainer 63, cleaner 10 may be made completelyfrom plastic materials such as acrylonitrile-britadiene-styrene. Valves42, 52 and 87 may be made from vinyl or the like. Strainer 63 may bemade from cheesecloth, nylon, or other similar material which ispermeable to water but will trap microscopic particles'down to about 5microns in size.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

What is claimed is:

l. A cleaner for removing debris from swimming pools, which comprises:

a. an elongated barrel;

b. a first valve means for permitting upward flow and preventingdownward flow of fluids, said means positioned in the barrel adjacentthe lower end;

c. an elongated rod slidably mounted axially in the barrel above thefirst valve means, and adapted for reciprocating movement therein;

(1. a movable second valve means for lifting debris and water upwardlythrough the barrel and for creating a reduced pressure in the lower endof the barrel, said second valve means attached to the lower end of theelongated rod;

e. a head assembly removably fixed to the lower end of the barrel, saidassembly including:

i. a shell member having a lower opening, the edge thereof being notchedat spaced intervalsthereabout, said notches and opening adapted to admitdebris and water thereinto,

ii. a venturi member positioned on the top surface of the shell memberand extending up into the barrel when the head assembly is attachedthereto, said venturi member having a lower and upper concentric andjoined passageways, the lower passageway opening into the-shell memberand the upper passageway, being of smaller diameter than the lowerpassageway, opening into the barrel below the first valve means, withsaid opening having a hinged fiapper valve thereover, the twopassageways being adapted to increase the velocity of water and debriswhich may pass therethrough in response to the reduced pressure thereinresulting from the reciprocating movement of the second valve means, and

iii. a collar spaced from and surrounding the venturi member and beingtelescopingly received in the lower end of the barrel; and

f. an inverted U-shaped annular, generally rigid catch liner removablypositioned in the space between the collar and the venturi member andthereby removable from the barrel with the head assembly, the linerenclosing the opening of the second passageway in the venturi member,said liner having a plurality of holes through the walls thereof throughwhich water and microparticles may pass in response to the reducedpressure resulting from the reciprocating movement of the second valvemeans but in which macroparticles may be trapped.

2. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein the barrel has inverted L-shaped slotsat its lower end and the collar has outwardly projecting lugs, said lugsbeing receivable in said slots thereby removably retaining the headassembly to the barrel.

